Flavius Valerius Constantinus Research Paper

Flavius Valerius Constantinus was a Roman emperor during the 4th Century. He was born on February, 27 in Naissus, Moesia which is modern day Serbia. It is not certain the year but they range from 272 to 283. He was referred to as Constantine I after he became the Roman Emperor. It is still debated among scholars of today as to whether his faith in Christianity was legitimate. Some people feel as though it was only a political move to help him rise to power. It is also debated that Constantine’s Father, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, started off as an officer in the Roman Army. He eventually left Constantine’s mother, Helena, and married Maximian’s stepdaughter, Theodora. Maximian was the Western Roman Emperor. Maximian promoted Constantine

Constantine then joined his father on a military campaign and fought beside him in Britain. His father died at Eboracum the following year. Constantine then became the emperor of Western Rome. He was ruler of Britain, Spain, and Gaul. Constantine shared the empire with three other men. This came about because Diocletian wanted the empire to be ruled by a tetrarchy. The other three men were Maxentius, Licinius, and Maximin, Daia. Maxentius was the ruler of Rome and the son of Maximian and brother of Constantine’s second wife, Fausta. Licinius was the ruler of Sirmium and married to Constantine’s half-sister, Constantia. Maximin, Daia was ruler at Nicomedia. He was also involved in the persecutions of Christians. The battle of Milvian Bridge took place in 312 CE. It is reported that on the day before the battle Constantine saw the sign of the cross in the sky along with the words conquer by this sign. It also reported that later on that night he dreamed that Christ appeared before him telling him to carry the sign of the cross in the battle. He did so by replacing their banners with the sign of the cross. Constantine and his men defeated Maxentius and his men. Maxentius made an effort to retreat back into Rome but he ended up falling into a river and drowned. This victory left Constantine with complete control of the